Chasing financial freedom might be making you miserable.
Yeah, I said it. We talk a lot about escaping the 9–5, building wealth, going viral, “making it.” And don’t get me wrong — ambition is powerful. I’m ambitious as hell. But I’ve had a realisation recently that hit me hard: I’m already living a life that past-me prayed for… And somehow, it still wasn’t enough. I make good/decent money. I work from home. There was a time I used to dread the idea of going into work 5 days a week — especially at a warehouse. I remember thinking, “If I could just work from home and make solid money, I’d be set.” Now I have that. And yet… I still caught myself feeling restless. Dissatisfied. Wanting more. More money. More freedom. More views. More success. That’s the hedonic treadmill. As humans, we adapt to everything. The new car becomes normal. The pay rise becomes baseline. The WFH life becomes “meh.” Your nervous system recalibrates, and suddenly what used to be a dream is just… Tuesday. So here’s the uncomfortable question: If I’m almost as miserable now — with more blessings, more flexibility, more opportunity — as I was back then… Why am I so confident that being super rich, financially free, or wildly successful will suddenly fix everything? Why do celebrities with money, fame, access to anything… still struggle? Still spiral? Sometimes even end their lives? Because the external upgrade doesn’t automatically create an internal upgrade. And here’s something that humbled me even more… When I worked at that warehouse, I met some of the happiest people I’ve ever met in my life. Genuinely happy. Laughing all shift. Present. Content. Some of them are probably still there. And I’d bet some of them are happier than me. That messed with my narrative. We are wired to want more. To compare. To optimise. To chase. But at some point you have to wake up and realise: You have the power to choose happiness and freedom now. Not when you hit £X. Not when your content blows up. Not when you quit your job. Now. That doesn’t mean kill your ambition.